A senior East Kilbride care worker who humiliated a severely disabled pensioner in her care was this week found guilty of abuse.

Heartless Sharon Young (39) laughed at and degraded the double amputee as she was being lowered into a bath by other carers at Rosaburn House.

And, when the woman suffered an embarrassing mishap, Young, a mum-of-three, took a photograph of the “evidence” and gleefully showed the image to a staff nurse.

The shocking incident was not reported to management at the Lindsayfield care home until two months later.

An investigation was launched by the Care Inspectorate last July and Young, who had worked at the home for over seven years, was sacked.

First offender Young, of 14 Burn Road, Chapelton, denied any wrongdoing but was found guilty of a charge of abusive behaviour following trial.

Finding her guilty, Sheriff Ray Small said Young had failed in her duty to care for vulnerable members of society.

Sheriff Small said: “Quite rightly this incident cost you your job.

“It’s concerning that elderly members of the public are being treated in this way.

“Vulnerable members of society should not be subjected to any degrading behaviour.

“I have serious concerns about you getting into this profession again.”

Sentence was deferred on Young for six months for good behaviour.

Young’s former colleagues David Joyce, Kirsty Rennie and Michelle Wilson told the court they were “shocked”, “appalled” and “disgusted” by Young’s behaviour on May 7, last year.

The court heard how Young was called to the elderly female resident’s bathroom that evening after the lady, who is in her late 70s, suffered a slight “accident”.

While seated in a specialist hoist and being tended to by care workers Joyce and Rennie, the frail OAP was then subjected to vile, cruel taunts by Young.

Then, to the horror of her staff, Young pulled out her camera phone and took a picture of the “embarrassing” scene.

Ms Rennie (35) said: “We had tried to be discreet, to give her her dignity, and put towels round her.

“Sharon had her phone in her hand and found it quite funny to take a picture of what was in the bath.

She said that Young had then made a derogatory remark to the woman, laughed at her and walked out.

“I was disgusted... she was disrespecting an elderly person not capable of defending herself”, she added added.

The court was told the victim was a lovely, lively woman and one of the biggest characters in the home but, following the incident, had become quiet and withdrawn.

Young was described as a “bully” and a “horrible woman” by her colleagues and, before her dismissal, had been reported by care assistant Michelle Wilson, for bullying.

Young’s solicitor Fraser McKinnon highlighted the fact that the incident wasn’t reported right away and that there was no photographic evidence.

He added that there was a clash of personalities at the home and the witnesses had “axes to grind”.

Taking to the stand, Young denied entering the bathroom saying: “I’ve got nothing to hide.”

She continued by saying she was “totally shocked” by the accusations against her, claiming it was part of a conspiracy by the other workers, who didn’t like her.

Young added that “bitching and backstabbing” was commonplace at the home and in the care industry, which she had worked in for 15 years.

“There was a vendetta against me because I reported them for things”, said Young.

Describing her behaviour as “reckless” and “abusive”, Sheriff Small found Young guilty. She was ordered back to the dock for a review hearing on October 20.

When the allegations came to light last year, Rosaburn House owners, Northcare Scotland, told the News it takes care of residents “extremely carefully”. They refused to comment on Young’s conviction when contacted again this week.